Question

Some members of a class of natural products called terpenes, which are hydrocarbons with 10 carbon atoms derived from isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene), have a bridged bicyclic carbon framework. For each of the following compounds, give the name of the parents bridged bicyclic hydrocarbon (i.e., ignore the methyl and isopropyl substituents in each structure). Draw the structure of isoprene.

Answer 1

Monoterpenes are the terpenes with 10 carbon atoms. Among monoterpenes there is a subcategory which is bicyclic monoterpenes. As the name suggests, bicyclic monoterpenes possess two rings fused together. Based on the second ring size they are divided into 3 classes:

a) (6+3) membered ring: thujane and carane

b) (6+4) membered ring: pinane

c) (6+5) membered ring: camphane, isocamphane, fenchane and isobornylane